A raccoon that fought with a dog belonging to a Bayberry Road resident was found to have rabies, according to a news release from the McDuffie County Health Department.

The resident shot and killed the raccoon on Sunday. The dog had not been vaccinated for rabies and was euthanized.

The health department submitted the raccoon to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing, which proved the animal was positive for rabies.

This was the second rabid raccoon found in the county in October.

"They go in cycles, so we'll have two or three in a row and sometimes not any for a couple of years," said Tim Mosley, an environmental health specialist for the county. "It just means the virus is active and moving through the area."

The health department recommends that all residents keep their pets' rabies vaccinations up to date.